Apparatus for operating alarms or other devices.



G. I. ROCKWOOD.

APPARATUS EoR OPERATING ALABMS 0R OTHER nEvIcEs.

APPLICATION IILBD 111111.12. 1810.

Patented Nov. 3, 1914.

Innen/or eorge Hqwood. gy Q l A 4. r orney.

1H 'f MORRIS PETERS CO.. PHTU-Llrnm. WASHING TUN. u, c.

t STAr ne Para onirica. 7

GEORGE I. ROGKWOOD, OF WORCESTER, MASSACHUSETTS.

APPARATUS FOR OPERATING ALARMS 0R OTHER DEVICES.

Specification of Letters Patent.`

Application filed March 12, 1910. Serial No.` 548,862.

Patented Nov. 3, 1914.

To all whom 'it may concern.'

Be it known that I, GEORGE I. RooKwooD, a citizen of the United States, residing at Worcester, in the countyof:I Worcester and `Commonwealth of Massachusetts, have invented a new and useful Improvement in Apparatus for Operating Alarms or other Devices, of which the following, with the accompanying drawings, is a specification.

My present invention relates to an alarm operating device designed to be used in connection with an automatic fire sprinkler system in which a device for producing an audible alarm is provided, designed to be operated whenever a continuous passage of a liquid under pressure occurs through a pipe supplying the sprinkler heads, said alarm, however, remaining ineffectual during short ,intermittent passages yof water through the supply pipe, such for example, asthose pro- .duced by what are known as water hammers. l

It is the object of my present invention to render the operation of the alarm apparatus certain whenever'a slight difference in pressure occurs in thesupply ipe, such, for example, as would result by t erelease of a single sprinkler head, and I accomplish this object by the construction and arrangement of parts as hereinafter described and illustrated in the `accompanying drawings, in

` which- Figure 1 is a side elevation of an alarm controlling device embodying my present invention, `the same being shown in central, vertical, sectional view. Fig. 2 is a view of the diaphragm supporting frame formed upon the side of and preferably integral with the water supply pipe. p

Similar reference characters refer to similar parts in both figures.

Referringto the accompanying drawings 1 denotes a chamber having an inlet pipe 2,

communicating with a water supply pipe 3` leading to a source of water supply under pressure. Upon one side of the supply pipe 3 is a circular opening 4 surrounded by a flange 5 and intersected by a spider, consisting ofthe radial arms 6, 7 8 and 9. Secured to the flange 5 by bolts is a cover `11. Between the cover 11 and the radialarms 6,

t 7, 8 and 9 is inclosed a space which is divided by a flexible diaphragm 12, having its edges clamped between the flange 5 and the cover 11, forming between the diaphragm 12 and` cover 1l ayu-inclosed chamber 13. The chaml ber 13 communicates through an opening 14 in the cover and a pipe 15 with an annular space 16 inclosed between a section 17 of the water supply pipe and the smaller end of a tapering pipe 18.

The larger end of the taperinor pipe 18 is clamped between the flanged en of the section 17 and the flanged end of the supply pipe 3,-so that the tapering pipe 18 will form a continuation of the supply pipe 3.f

Between the section 17 and the pipe 19, upon which a sprinkler head 2O is mounted, I insert a tapering pipe 21, but tapered in the reverse direction from the pipe 18, with the smaller end of the pi e 21 in alinement with the smaller end of tie pipe 18. A narrow space 22 is provided betweenthe smaller end of the pipe 21 and the smaller end of the pipe 18 to form a water communication between the interior of said, pipes and the annular space 16. The radial arm 9 of the spider' is hollow to provide a water passage 23, the inner end of which is provided with a short nipple `241 which projects slightly above the surface of the spider and forms a seat for the flexible diaphragm 12 when the latter is forced inward by water pressure in the chamber 13. The outer end of the water passage 23 receives the end of thepi e `2,

forming a communication between the c iamber l and the interior ot' the supply pipe 3, except when itis closed by the flexible diaphragm 12.

Then the system is filled with water the static pressure, .for equal areas, will be the same upon opposite sides of the diaphragm` water at the smaller end of t e pipe and at the opening 22 would be slightly lessened by a well known principle of hydraulics, thereby producing a slight reduction of pressure in the annular space 16 and a corresponding reduction in the chamber 13,. A; slight difference in pressure thus produced upon the opposite sides of the diaphragmV 12 will` cause, the latter tov be lifted from its seat 24, allowing the water to iiow through the pipe 2 intoI the chamber 1. Vhenever `the chamber 1 becomes iilled a diaphragm Y 25 is forced upward, carryingl with.` it thev attached tapered plug 26 which closes. an opening 27 between an upper chamber-l and an intermediateH chamber 29 having anoverflow pipe 30.

Any influx of water to the. chamber 11 in excess oi its capacitywill be forced` through the restricted opening 31v into the chamber 28. /Vhenever any suchA influx of water to the chamber l is produced by theshort pulsationoi` the water hammer, aA small amount of water will be i'orced into thechamber 28 and as soon as the pressure in the chamber 1 is relieved the diaphragm 25 and. plug 26 will be forced down by a spring 32, allowing the Water accui'nulatedA in the chamber 28 to flow through the opening 27 into the intermediate chamber 29 and escape through the pipe 30; 1i?, however, the reduction in pressure in the annular space 16 is continued, as would occur byv the release of the sprinkler head 20, the flow of water into the chamber 1 will be continued until the chambery 28 fills and sets in4 operation an alarm ofl any suitable construction,r consisting, in

the present instance, of a small wheel in closedr in a case 33 and operatedvby the flow of water through a pipe 34 to sound a, gong. 35.

That. part of my apparatus which` comprises the chambers 1, 28 and 29 with connected alarm devices, forms no part of my present invention. My present invention relates to that portion of the device connected with the Water supply pipe by which the fiowo water through the pipe 2 to any desirable alarm operating device may be con trolled. by means of a differential diaphragm.

rilhe diiierential diaphragm, according to my invention, has one side exposed to the direct pressure of water in the supply pipe and the other side exposed to a water pressure which is determined by the variation in the lateral pressure of a stream of water under motion through a contracted space.

I claim,

1. In an apparatus yiior operating alarms, a main pipe communicating with a source ofi water under pressure and provided with an opening in one ofits sides, ay chamber supported on the side of saidmain pipe and divided into an outer and an inner section by a diaphragm, the inner section communieatingi ith said main pipe through said openir A' i water pressure chamber, a pipe connecting said inner section of the diaphragm chamber with the water pressure chamber' and arranged to. contactY normally with the diaphragm to be closed thereby, and means for.: varying the pressure in said outer section of the diaphragm chamber by theiow of water through said main pipe.

2. in an apparatus for operating alarms, and. comprising a water pressure chamber, :the combination of a main supply pipe,

means for reducing the water pressure 1n an annular section of said supply pipe by the flow of water through the pipe, a Chamber supported on the side of" said supply pipe, a diaphragm inclosed .in said chamber, ythe space attheside of the diaphragm next the supply pipev being in communication therewith, a pipe connectingf said supply pipe and' the water pressure chamber arranged to be normally closed by the contact of the diaphragm, andl a pipe connecting said' annular water space in the supplypipe with saiddiaphragm chamber on the side of the diaphragm opposite said supply pipe.

J 3f. in an. apparatus for operatingalarms, a` supply pipe havingv oppositely` tapered passages and an annular water spacexatr the smaller ends of said tapering passages and communicating therewith, a diaphragm chamber supported at the side of said supply pipe, a diaphragm inclosedl in said chamber, there being communication between one side of the 'diaphragm chamber v and the supply pipe, a water pressure, chamber, means for connecting the other side of the diaphragm chamber with saidy annular water space, and a pipe leading' from the side of said diaphragm chamber next to the supply pipe to the water pressure chamber, arranged to be normally closedby the contact oi the diaphragm with the end of" said pipe.

le In an apparatus for operating alarms, the combination with a main, pipe having oppositely tapering passages and` anannular water space at the smaller ends oi sai'dpassages and communicating therewith, a diaphragm cha1nber,a diaphragm inclosed in said chamber, a Water pressure chamber, a pipe communicating with the water passage in-said main pipe and leading to the water pressure chamber, with its entrance endv pipe with the other section of the diaphragm chamber.

GEORGE I. ROCKWOOD.

Witnesses PENELOPE COMBERBACH, NELLIE WHALEN.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for :tive cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents,

Washington, D. C. 

